The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower is the epitome of all the parables of our Lord Jesus. He spoke deep kingdom truths with common imagery and the interpretation was given to the disciples in private. He chose to talk in parables as He knew that the people were not keen to understand the things of God. "This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;though hearing, they do not hear or understand."(Matt 13:13) To know the heart of God and to perceive the kingdom life we need to "see" while seeing and "hear" and "understand"(apply) what we hear from Him.

The Sower of the seed is God who is generous. His voice is heard everywhere (Psalm 19:4)The Word of God created it all and is meant to reap a rich harvest similar to what Isaac experienced. Isaac sowed seed in a time of famine and reaped a hundred fold(Gen 26:12)

Jesus our Lord opened the hearts of normal , simple folks to the reality of the kingdom of heaven as He interpreted it privately to His disciples saying- " knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you"(Matt 13:11) Knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven opened a new dimension to the galilean folks who were pretty much earthly minded. A normal Jew starts the Torah reading by the word "shamayim" meaning heavens and here was Christ- the one sent from heaven stating the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven that ruleth over all(Ps 103:19).

The Kingdom of heaven exerts its influence on the earth by the Seed(the Word of God). God is the sower of the Word.

When it falls on the path, the birds eat it. Christ unequivocally stresses on the work of the enemy that renders the word ineffective. We should pay utmost attention to God's Word, reflect , apply as we are the ground of Kingdom influence.(Matt 13:19)

At times we hear the word with great joy. We get excited on the reception of God's word(kingdom influence)but when sun comes up and testing comes on account of God's word we fall away. (Matt 13:20)

The thorns of the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.(Matt 13:22) Worries of this life and comforts both prevents the kingdom influence from emanating in and through our life.

Ultimately Christ challenged the disciples then and is challenging us today to be the good soil that imbibes the seed,(hears or understands the word) and produce a great harvest for the Kingdom.

Shema Yisrael is the major prayer of every Jew.

Our Lord Jesus would have definitely used the word "Shema" in the context of this parable - In English we translated it as "hears the word and understands it"(Matt 13:23) . Shema means- active listening, understanding, and doing what is heard. Kingdom of heaven exerts its influence on the planet earth through normal human hearts ready to actively listen , understand and apply(do) what is heard! So the Shema Yisrael(Prayer) becomes our greatest responsibility!

Christ starts His discourse on the kingdom by interpreting these key terminologies in Jewish life such as Shamayim, Shema, Prayer, Farmer, Seed, Thorns, Ground.(Do you recognise the pattern??)

May we experience the kingdom impact by reaping a hundred fold!